We Know: All About Lactose Intolerance What is lactose intolerance? Lactose intolerance occurs when the body produces inadequate quantities of lactase in the small intestine to break down lactose, a sugar that is produced from dairy products. Lactase normally sits in the gut and digests lactose, breaking it down to its constituent sugars galactose and glucose. Galactose and glucose are then absorbed into the bloodstream and used for metabolic processing. For victims of lactose intolerance, undigested lactose passes through the small intestine and down to the large intestine, where it sits and ferments, resulting in bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and flatulence. It is not known how people end up lactose intolerant, but what is known is that by the time an individual reaches the age of 5, if the person develops fewer lactase enzymes, it could lead to the problem when the person reaches adulthood. What causes lactose intolerance? There are three causes of lactose intolerance. Primary adult hyperplasia - major cause of adult lactase deficiency. Congenital alactasia - person is born without lactase. Secondary or acquired hyperplasia - usually a consequence of injury to the gastrointestinal system, most common cause of child lactose intolerance. Certain ethnicities are predisposed to lactose intolerance. They may carry a mutation in chromosome 2 which shuts down lactase production. The ethnic groups most prone to lactose intolerance include Asians and African Americans and Native Americans. Ninety percent of all Asians have the condition, compared to seventy-five percent of the African American and Native American population. Only twenty percent of Caucasians have the condition. The condition is pretty common, affecting 30 to 50 million Americans. Lactose intolerance is thought to also be caused by the weaning of infants when lactose production drops. What are the symptoms of lactose intolerance? When lactose sits undigested in the large intestine, it begins to attract bacteria in the gut. The bacteria eat up these sugars and produce gas, causing flatulence. The excess lactose also attracts fluid into the bowels, causing bloating. Stomach cramps and diarrhea are also byproducts of lactose intolerance. Symptoms appear 30 minutes to several hours later after the ingestion of lactose-containing foods. How is lactose intolerance diagnosed? Most people know they have lactose intolerance when the symptoms become associated with the ingestion of lactose-containing foods. Otherwise, medical tests are available to determine whether a person has lactose intolerance. What can I do to prevent and treat lactose intolerance? The only method of treating and preventing lactose intolerance is to avoid lactose-containing foods. Some people may be able to digest lactose in minute amounts, while others may have severe symptoms that require the avoidance of dairy products and supplementation instead to get the needed calcium that dairy products provide. Individuals may take Lactase pills, which are sold over the counter in drug stores. When taken before a meal, the pill breaks down lactose-containing products.
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